Holiday atmosphere adds to ‘Open House’ at TERRA

Felix Perez is tested by TERRA students (l-r) Emanuel Espinosa of Sweetwater with Lourdes Nunez and Eric Barquia, both of Kendall.

The holiday spirit enveloped TERRA Environmental Research Institute on Dec. 3. Decorated Christmas wreaths ($1 and up) at a “Green Festival” raised funds for the newly organized German Club at Kendall’s 3-year-old all magnet high school.

That was only one of many student-hosted booths during a four-hour “Open House” to showcase student research projects.

A demonstration of radio-controlled robots helped bring hundreds of visitors to the school’s second Farmer’s Market, combined with an Open House for parents and friends who toured the school buildings and campus.

While TERRA’s biomedical students were busy providing free blood tests, George Broderman pinch-hit for wife, Carmen, selling tiny green bags of “healthy snacks” ($1) to help finance future activities for that program.

“Carmen’s busy getting dunked at the dunking station booth,” George said.

This was the second of two Farmer’s Markets, since the school’s opening three years ago. A third is planned in February 2012.